777-200LR first flight: Pilots' perspective
Today the first Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner will make its first flight from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., embarking on a seven-month flight-test program. The airplane -- piloted by Capts. Suzanna Darcy-Henneman, 777-200LR project pilot, and Frank Santoni, chief 777 program pilot -- will take off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. at 10 a.m. Pacific, and fly north to the Straits of Juan de Fuca, cruising up and down the Washington coast before landing approximately three hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle.
During the flight, the airplane -- powered by two GE90-110B1 engines rated at 110,000 lb. of thrust -- will fly at a maximum of 15,000 feet with a maximum speed of 270 knots (310 mph). Darcy-Henneman and Santoni will be evaluating the airplane's systems and initial handling qualities and they will be performing system checks including electrical, hydraulic and pressurization.
The seven-month flight-test program, which consists of two 777-200LR airplanes (dubbed WD001 and WD002), includes approximately 500 hours of flight testing and 300 hours of ground testing. These figures account for both flight-test airplanes.
Darcy-Henneman and Santoni recently shared their thoughts about the 777-200LR first flight with Commercial News Now:
Q: From the pilot's perspective, what is new about this airplane?
Darcy-Hennemann: What's new about this airplane is the range the airplane has -- 9,420 nautical miles -- amazing! It really "goes the distance." It is capable of connecting virtually any two cities in the world nonstop.
Santoni: What stands out about this airplane is the commonality with the other 777 models (777-200, 200ER, 300, and 300ER). Our task is to prove it will fly and handle the same. Regarding the newness, it has more range than any commercial airplane ever built.
Q: What is your favorite part of a first flight?
Darcy-Hennemann: First flights are unique. There will be a lot of flying during the flight test program -- but only one first flight. The best part is the one quiet moment somewhere in the flight where we have a moment to appreciate how beautiful everything is from the air, how well the airplane's flying, and then, it's back to work!
Santoni: The entire flight is very special and it goes very fast. By the time you land you wonder where the three hours went. The most thrilling part for me is takeoff. The entire flight-test program is like a marathon, and up to now we've been in training and preparation for the start. There are butterflies like you might feel at the starting line but once you start the engines, the butterflies go away, you do your job and everything just falls into place.
Q: How do you prepare for a first flight?
Darcy-Hennemann: We prepare by working with engineering and manufacturing for at least one year. Then starting this winter we've been in the simulator training ourselves and working together with our engineering colleagues as well as the other pilots. This means we're in the simulator for about twelve hours a week. We also prepare by reviewing the flying techniques and the regulations. Basically, we immerse ourselves physically and mentally into our work. We've also been working out. Frank jogs and I weight lift and hit the treadmill.
Santoni: We've spent more than a year preparing for this day by working with engineering and manufacturing on design, procedures and performance expectations. As Suzanna said, we've spent about 12 hours a week for the past twelve weeks in the simulator. We've been training ourselves and the other pilots and going through the first three flight profiles.
Capts. Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, 777-200LR project pilot, and Frank Santoni, chief 777 program pilot, will be in command during the first flight of the 777-200LR Worldliner, the longest range commercial airplane in the world. The airplane is scheduled to take off today at 10 a.m. Pacific. Marian Lockhart photo